Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA)

The Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) Program is a State program with entitlement and competitive components.

Purpose and Priorities

The PLHA program is designed to 

• Increase the supply of affordable housing at or below 80% AMI
• Facilitate housing affordability, particularly for lower- and moderate-income households
• Program projects and programs to meet the local government's unmet share of regional housing needs allocation (RHNA)

Eligible Applicants

Public agencies, non-profits, and for-profit developers

Eligible Area

The State designated Contra Costa County as the administrator of the entitlement grant award for the Contra Costa “Urban County”, which includes the unincorporated communities and all the cities except for Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg, and Walnut Creek, which has their own entitlements.  

Target Population

Households earning 80% or less of AMI

Resources, Documents, and Reports

PLHA Five-Year Plan (PDF)

Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO) In-Lieu Fees

The County manages a forgivable loan program funded through in-lieu fees associated with the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The funds are provided as a forgivable low-interest loan, secured against the affordable housing property, to be reconveyed after the property is in service as affordable housing for five years
Read more about Inclusions Housing Ordinance  

Purpose and Priorities

The IHO funds are intended  to provide the funding to affordable units that might not be built but for the assistance.

Eligible Applicants

Public agencies, non-profits, and for-profit developers

Eligible Areas

Unincorporated Contra Costa County

Target Population

Households earning up to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)

Other Considerations

• Preference for projects with larger units (two or more bedrooms); 
• May not be used to support affordable housing required to be built as part of a market-rate project using density bonus or to meet inclusionary housing requirements. This targets the funding to affordable units that might not be built but for the assistance.